Motor

Abstract

To provide a technique for suppressing or avoiding heating of a plurality of terminals or terminal blocks in a motor.SOLUTION: A motor includes a stator core 8 extending in an axial direction, a coil 14 wound around the stator core 8, a plurality of terminals 32 connected to the coil 14, and at least one refrigerant supply channel 20 disposed along the periphery of the stator core 8. The refrigerant supply channel 20 has a terminal cooling path 40 that supplies refrigerant to the plurality of terminals 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a motor.

Background Art

[0002] A motor includes a stator in which three-phase coils are wound around a stator core, and a rotor. Along the axial direction of the stator core, terminals of the coils extending outward are welded together to form coil ends outside the stator core. Cooling pipes serving as refrigerant supply paths are provided on the left and right sides of the outer periphery of the stator core for these coil ends. One or more openings for discharging refrigerant are formed in the cooling pipes along the ends and the extending direction thereof to cool the coil ends and the stator core (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A conductor extending from a bus bar is further connected to an inverter or the like via a terminal block disposed on the outer periphery of the stator core. When a high-voltage current flows through the conductor, the conductor and the terminal block are heated together. Since the cooling pipes are on the left and right sides of the terminal block, the terminal block is not sufficiently cooled.

[0005] This specification provides a technology for suppressing or avoiding heating of a plurality of terminals or a terminal block in a motor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a motor. The motor includes a stator core extending in the axial direction, a coil wound around the stator core, a plurality of terminals connected to the coil, and at least one refrigerant supply flow path disposed along the outer periphery of the stator core. The refrigerant supply flow path includes a terminal cooling path for supplying refrigerant toward the plurality of terminals.

[0007] According to the above motor, since the refrigerant supply flow path includes a terminal cooling path for supplying refrigerant to the plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals are effectively cooled.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Fig. 1A

Fig. 1B

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] One embodiment of the motor disclosed in this specification includes an axially extending stator core, a coil wound around the stator core, a plurality of terminals connected to the coil, and at least one refrigerant supply flow path disposed along the outer periphery of the stator core. The refrigerant supply flow path may include a terminal cooling path that supplies refrigerant toward the plurality of terminals.

[0010] Another embodiment of the motor includes that the terminal cooling path houses the plurality of terminals and is formed such that the refrigerant can flow between the plurality of terminals. By doing so, the plurality of terminals can be effectively cooled.

[0011] Another embodiment of the motor includes that the terminal cooling path may be formed to supply the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil ends where the stator core and / or the coil are exposed from the axial ends of the stator core. Also, the terminal cooling path may include at least one discharge port for discharging the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil ends. By doing so, the stator core and / or the coil ends can also be effectively cooled.

[0012] Another embodiment of the motor includes that the plurality of terminals may be arranged in a horizontal row parallel to the tangent line of the end of the stator core closest to them. By doing so, the plurality of terminals can be efficiently cooled.

[0013] Another embodiment of the motor includes that the at least one refrigerant supply flow path may include two refrigerant supply flow paths respectively disposed on both end sides along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals. By doing so, more refrigerant can be supplied to the terminal cooling path.

[0014] Another embodiment of the motor is that the motor has a rotation center substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, the at least one refrigerant supply flow path includes two refrigerant supply flow paths arranged at substantially the same height along the axial direction of a stator core arranged along the rotation center, the plurality of terminals are arranged substantially horizontally above the stator core, and the terminal cooling path may extend substantially horizontally between the two refrigerant supply flow paths. Further, the terminal cooling path may be arranged at the same height as the two refrigerant supply paths. By doing so, in a motor having a rotation center substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, the space near the outer periphery of the stator core can be effectively utilized, and the refrigerant can be efficiently supplied toward the plurality of terminals.

[0015] Another embodiment of the motor is that the terminal cooling flow path may include a concave or hollow flow path that houses the plurality of terminals and opens upward and communicates with the two refrigerant supply flow paths. Further, the terminal cooling path may be provided with at least one discharge port for discharging the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end. By doing so, the plurality of terminals can be reliably cooled.

[0016] Another embodiment of the motor is that the motor has a rotation center substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, the at least one refrigerant supply flow path is arranged along the axial direction of the stator core arranged along the rotation center, the plurality of terminals are arranged substantially horizontally above the stator core, and the terminal cooling path houses the plurality of terminals, and the refrigerant may be formed to be able to flow between the plurality of terminals. By doing so, the terminal cooling path can be arranged compactly around the stator core.

[0017] In this embodiment, the terminal cooling path may be provided with an end portion extending along the circumferential direction of the stator core. By doing so, the terminal cooling path can be arranged compactly around the stator core and is convenient for discharging the refrigerant to the coil end.

[0018] In this embodiment, the at least one refrigerant supply channel includes two refrigerant supply channels arranged at substantially the same height along the axial direction of the stator core, and the terminal cooling path may extend between the two refrigerant supply channels. By doing so, more refrigerant can be efficiently supplied by the terminal cooling path.

[0019] In this embodiment, the terminal cooling path may be arranged at the same height as the two refrigerant supply channels. By doing so, the cooling structure can be simply configured.

[0020] In this embodiment, the terminal cooling path may include a concave or hollow channel that houses the plurality of terminals and opens upward and communicates with the two refrigerant supply channels. By doing so, the terminals can be surely cooled.

[0021] In this embodiment, the terminal cooling path may be provided with at least one discharge port that discharges the refrigerant to the coil end where the stator core and / or the coil is exposed from the end along the axial direction of the stator core. By doing so, the coil end can be cooled together with the plurality of terminals.

[0022] Hereinafter, the motor disclosed in this specification will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the specification, the motor is not particularly limited, and for example, it may be a driving motor mounted on an electric vehicle, or may be a part such as an e-axle. The electric vehicle is a BEV, HEV, PHEV, FCV, etc. The upper side in the gravitational direction when mounted on the vehicle is referred to as the "upper side in the vertical direction", and the lower side in the gravitational direction is referred to as the "lower side in the vertical direction". Also, in this specification, when simply referring to the "axial direction", it means the axial direction of the stator or the stator core provided in the motor, and when simply referring to the "circumferential direction", it means the circumferential direction of the stator or the stator core, and when simply referring to the "radial direction", it means the radial direction of the stator or the stator core.

[0023] FIG. 1A shows a front view of the motor 2 mounted on a vehicle as seen from end A which is one coil end side of the stator 6, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an enlarged view of the refrigerant flow in the terminal cooling path 40, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1A of the motor 2, and FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the motor 2. In the drawings, the vertical direction in this specification is denoted as Z.

[0024] The motor 2 includes a rotor 4, a stator 6, a refrigerant supply passage 20, a terminal block 30, and a terminal cooling path 40. The motor shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a rotation axis X orthogonal to a line extending vertically in the vertical direction. The stator 6 arranged along this rotation axis X includes a stator core 8. The stator core 8 is a substantially annular body with respect to the rotation axis X of the motor 2 and is made of, for example, laminated steel plates. The rotor 4 is arranged in the central hole portion of the stator core 8. The stator core 8 includes a plurality of teeth (not shown) protruding radially from the inner peripheral surface of an annular back yoke 10 with a predetermined width and slots (not shown) formed between the respective teeth.

[0025] The coil 14 is configured such that a conducting wire is wound around the teeth of the stator core 8. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the coil 14 and the coil ends 14a are shown in a simplified manner. The connection form and the like of the conducting wire for forming the coil 14 are not particularly limited. The coil 14 is composed of three-phase coil groups (not shown) of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase. The coil 14 has coil ends 14a and 14b that protrude from the stator core 8 at end A which is one end side in the axial direction of the stator core 8 and end B which is the other end side. The coil ends 14a are welded with the coils 14 of the same phase wound apart in the circumferential direction.

[0026] The refrigerant supply passage 20 is a pipe for discharging the refrigerant supplied from the outside into the motor 2. The refrigerant supply passage 20 extends axially at two predetermined positions on the outer periphery of the stator core 8 above the stator core 8 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the motor 2 includes two refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b. These refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b extend from the vicinity of the end B of the stator core 8 to the vicinity of the end A, respectively. These refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b are arranged at the same height and spaced apart from each other at positions within ±70 degrees when the position directly above the stator core 8 on the outer periphery of the stator core 8 is set to 0 degrees.

[0027] The refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b are supplied with the refrigerant circulating in the motor 2 and the casing 2a that houses the motor 2. In the present embodiment, the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b through the casing 2a by a pump or the like, and flows from the other axial side (end B side) toward the one axial side (end A side).

[0028] The refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b are provided with discharge ports 222a and 22b for discharging the refrigerant toward the coil end 14b, and discharge ports 24a and 24b for discharging the refrigerant toward the stator core 8. The opening positions of the discharge ports 22a, 22b, 24a, and 24b on the peripheral wall of the refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b are not particularly limited, but are opened on the lower side or the obliquely lower side in the vertical direction of the peripheral wall of the refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b so as to discharge the refrigerant to the coil end 14b and the stator core 8.

[0029] Note that the refrigerant is not particularly limited, and an oily liquid that can be used for cooling a known motor or the like is appropriately used.

[0030] The terminal block 30 is disposed above the stator core 8 in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the end portion A of the stator core 8. The terminal block 30 is horizontally disposed between the two refrigerant supply passages 20 at the same height as these refrigerant supply passages 20. The terminal block 30 is composed of a plurality of terminals 32 electrically connected to the coils of the stator 6 and a base (not shown) that holds the plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals 32 in the present embodiment are four terminals 32 including a U-phase terminal extending from the U-phase coil, a V-phase terminal extending from the V-phase coil, a W-phase terminal extending from the W-phase coil, and a neutral point connection terminal extending from the neutral point bus bar. The terminal block 30 arranges these plurality of terminals 32 in a horizontal row. A cable connected to an inverter (not shown) extends from the terminal block 30. Note that the terminal block 30 can adopt various configurations based on requirements from the motor 2, related inverters, and the like.

[0031] The terminal cooling path 40 is a path that houses the terminal block 30, communicates with the refrigerant supply passages 20, and supplies refrigerant to the plurality of terminals 32. The terminal cooling path 40 is horizontally and disposed at the same height so as to span between the two refrigerant supply passages 20 above the stator core 8 in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the end portion A. The terminal cooling path 40 of the present embodiment has a housing portion 42 including a hollow portion 42a that houses the terminal block 30, and is configured as a hollow pipe through which refrigerant flows inside. The housing portion 42 extends so as to span between the two refrigerant supply passages 20 on the other axial side (end portion A side). Communication holes 43 and 44 for communicating with the refrigerant supply passages 20a and 20b are provided at both ends along the extending direction of the housing portion 42.

[0032] The shape and the like of the housing portion 42 are not particularly limited, but it is formed so as to have at least a space and a volume sufficient for the refrigerant to flow through. The housing portion 42 can be formed of, for example, a resin material, a metal material, or a composite material thereof.

[0033] The terminal cooling path 40 is provided with a discharge port 46 at the bottom 45 on the lower side in the vertical direction of the housing portion 42, which discharges the refrigerant toward the coil end 14a protruding from the end portion A. The number of the discharge ports 46 is not particularly limited and may be at least one, but in some cases, it is preferable to provide a plurality of them in terms of the cooling efficiency of the coil end 14a.

[0034] Although not shown in the figure, the terminal cooling path 40 may be connected to the casing 2a to allow the refrigerant to flow toward the casing 2a.

[0035] Next, the cooling action in the terminal block 30 and the like in such a motor 2 will be described. When the refrigerant flowing through the motor 2 and the casing 2a of the motor 2 is supplied to the refrigerant supply channels 20a and 20b by a pump or the like, the refrigerant flows from the other side in the axial direction (end portion B side) toward the one side in the axial direction (end portion A side). The refrigerant is discharged from the discharge ports 22a, 22b, 24a, and 24b provided in the refrigerant supply channels 20a and 20b, and the coil end 14b and the stator core 8 are cooled.

[0036] When the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant supply channels 20a and 20b reaches the vicinity of the end portion A, the refrigerant flows into the housing portion 42 of the terminal cooling path 40 through the communication holes 43 and 44. The refrigerant flowing into the terminal cooling path 40 cools the terminals 32 from both end sides along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals 32. Further, the refrigerant is supplied from the discharge port 46 provided at the bottom 45 of the housing portion 42 toward the coil end 14a to cool the coil end 14a.

[0037] As described above, according to the motor 2, by providing the refrigerant supply channels 20a and 20b and the terminal cooling path 40, the refrigerant is surely supplied to the terminal block 30, that is, the plurality of terminals 32, and these are effectively cooled. Further, the coil end 14b, the stator core 8, and the coil end 14a can also be cooled.

[0038] Also, according to the motor 2, a narrow space around the motor 2 and the stator core 8 can be effectively utilized to cool a plurality of terminals 32, and further, the coil ends 14a, 14b and the stator core can also be cooled.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the terminal cooling path 40 is a hollow pipe that houses a plurality of terminals 32 and through which a refrigerant flows, but it is not limited to this. As long as the refrigerant can be guided from the refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b, etc. to the terminals. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal cooling path 140 may be a concave body 142 that houses a plurality of terminals 32 and opens upward in the vertical direction, and may be communicated with the refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b through the communication holes 44.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the terminal cooling path 40 extends horizontally between the two refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b, but it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, both ends 242a, 242b of the terminal cooling path 240 or the housing portion 242 along its extending direction may have a shape that curves or bends along the circumferential direction of the stator core 8. By doing so, for example, the discharge ports 246 provided at the bottoms 245 of both ends 242a, 242b where the housing portion 242 extends can discharge the refrigerant with good directivity and sufficiently to the coil end 14a.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the two refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b and the terminal cooling path 40 are at the same height, but it is not limited to this. The positional relationship between them can be adjusted from the perspective of the design around the motor 2 and the stator core 8. For example, the terminal cooling path 40 may be arranged vertically below the two refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b, or the terminal cooling path 40 may be arranged vertically above them. In these cases, the refrigerant supply channels 20a, 20b and the terminal cooling path 40 are configured to be communicated as appropriate regardless of the difference in height positions.

[0042] In the above-described embodiments, the terminal block 30 and the terminal cooling path 40 are provided in the vicinity of the end A of the stator core 8, but the present invention is not limited thereto. From the viewpoint of the design around the motor 2 and the stator core 8, etc., the positions of the terminal block 30 and the terminal cooling path 40 can be appropriately set in the axial direction of the stator core 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal cooling path 340 that houses the terminal block 30 may be provided so as to protrude further axially forward from the end A of the stator core 8. The terminal cooling path 340 may also be provided with a discharge port 346 leading to the coil end 14a at the bottom 345 on the lower side in the vertical direction. In this case, in order to enhance the directivity of the refrigerant toward the coil end 14a, a refrigerant guide may be provided so as to face the coil end 14a side. Further, the plurality of terminals 32 to the terminal block 30 may be arranged in a horizontal row, for example, parallel to the tangent line of any end of the stator core 8 that is closest.

[0043] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the terminal cooling path 440 may be provided so as to recess away from the end A of the stator core 8 toward the end B side of the stator core 8. In this case, the terminal cooling path 440 will be provided in the middle of the refrigerant supply flow paths 20a and 20b. In this case, the terminal cooling path 440 may be provided with a discharge port 446 that discharges the refrigerant toward the stator core 8 and a discharge port 447 that discharges the refrigerant toward the coil end 14a at the bottom 445 on the lower side in the vertical direction. In the above description, the terminal cooling paths 40, 240, 340, and 440 are arranged above the motor 2 to the stator core 8 in the vertical direction, but for example, they may be provided at positions other than above the vertical direction, such as on the side of the motor 2 to the stator core 8.

[0044] In the above-described embodiments, two refrigerant supply channels 20a and 20a are provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and at least one refrigerant supply channel may be provided. For example, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 8, a single refrigerant supply channel 120 may be provided directly above the stator core 8 in the vertical direction. The refrigerant supply channel 120 may communicate with the terminal cooling path 40 at any location in the extending direction thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it may communicate at the central portion. Further, three or more refrigerant supply channels may be provided. The connection with the terminal cooling path 40 can be set as appropriate.

[0045] According to the disclosure of the present specification, the present specification can include the following configurations. [1] A stator core extending in the axial direction, A coil wound around the stator core, A plurality of terminals connected to the coil, At least one refrigerant supply channel arranged along the outer periphery of the stator core, And comprising, The refrigerant supply channel includes a terminal cooling path for supplying refrigerant to the plurality of terminals, a motor. [2] The terminal cooling path houses the plurality of terminals, and the refrigerant is formed to be able to flow between the plurality of terminals. The motor according to [1]. [3] The terminal cooling path is formed so as to be able to supply the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end where the coil is exposed from the end portion along the axial direction of the stator core. The motor according to [1] or [2]. [4] The terminal cooling path includes at least one discharge port for discharging the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end. The motor according to any one of [1] to [3]. [5] The plurality of terminals are arranged in a horizontal row parallel to the tangent line of the end portion of the stator core closest to each other. The motor according to any one of [1] to [4]. [6] The at least one refrigerant supply channel includes two refrigerant supply channels respectively arranged on both end sides along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals. The motor according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] The motor has a rotation center that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, The at least one refrigerant supply flow path is arranged along the axial direction of the stator core arranged along the rotation center, The plurality of terminals are arranged substantially horizontally above the stator core, The terminal cooling path houses the plurality of terminals and is formed such that the refrigerant can flow between the plurality of terminals. The motor according to [1]. [8] The terminal cooling path includes an end portion extending along the circumferential direction of the stator core. The motor according to [7]. [9] The at least one refrigerant supply flow path includes two refrigerant supply flow paths arranged at substantially the same height along the axial direction of the stator core, The terminal cooling path spans between the two refrigerant supply paths. The motor according to [7] or [8].

[10] The terminal cooling path is arranged at the same height as the two refrigerant supply paths. The motor according to any one of [7] to [9].

[11] The terminal cooling path houses the plurality of terminals and includes a concave or hollow flow path that opens upward and communicates with the two refrigerant supply flow paths. The motor according to any one of [7] to

[10] .

[12] The terminal cooling path includes at least one discharge port that discharges the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end where the coil is exposed from the end portion along the axial direction of the stator core. The motor according to [7] to

[11] .

[0046] As described above, specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and achieving one of these purposes itself has technical utility.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0047] 2 Motors, 4 Rotors, 6 Stators, 8 Stator Cores, 10 Back Yokes, 14 Tacoils, 14a, 14b Coil Ends, 20, 20a, 20b, 120 Refrigerant Supply Flow Paths, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b Discharge Ports, 30 Terminal Blocks, 32 Terminals, 40, 140, 240, 340, 440 Terminal Cooling Paths

Claims

1. An axially extending stator core, A coil wound around the stator core, A plurality of terminals connected to the coil, At least one refrigerant supply passage disposed along the outer periphery of the stator core, Comprising, The refrigerant supply passage includes a terminal cooling passage for supplying refrigerant to the plurality of terminals, a motor.

2. The terminal cooling passage houses the plurality of terminals, and the refrigerant is formed to be able to flow between the plurality of terminals. The motor according to claim 1.

3. The terminal cooling passage is formed so as to be able to supply the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end where the coil is exposed from the end portion along the axial direction of the stator core. The motor according to claim 1.

4. The terminal cooling passage includes at least one discharge port for discharging the refrigerant to the stator core and / or the coil end. The motor according to claim 3.

5. The plurality of terminals are arranged in a horizontal row parallel to the tangent line of the end portion of the stator core closest to each other. The motor according to claim 1.

6. The at least one refrigerant supply passage includes two refrigerant supply passages respectively disposed on both end sides along the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals. The motor according to claim 1.

7. The motor has a rotation center substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction, The at least one refrigerant supply passage is disposed along the axial direction of the stator core disposed along the rotation center, The plurality of terminals are arranged substantially horizontally above the stator core, The terminal cooling passage houses the plurality of terminals, and the refrigerant is formed to be able to flow between the plurality of terminals. The motor according to claim 1.

8. The terminal cooling passage includes an end portion extending along the circumferential direction of the stator core. The motor according to claim 7.

9. The at least one refrigerant supply passage includes two refrigerant supply passages disposed substantially at the same height along the axial direction of the stator core, The terminal cooling passage spans between the two refrigerant supply passages. The motor according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The terminal cooling passage is disposed at the same height as the two refrigerant supply passages. The motor according to claim 7 or 8.

11. The motor according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the terminal cooling path includes a concave or hollow path that houses the plurality of terminals and opens upward and communicates with the two refrigerant supply channels.

12. The motor according to claim 11, wherein the terminal cooling path includes at least one discharge port that discharges the refrigerant to the stator core and / or a coil end where the coil is exposed from an end along the axial direction of the stator core.

Images